Yellow crispy fan leaves on 4 different strains.Deficiency or hard water?

[Rusty Trichome]

The liquid ph test kits are better, more accurate than the strips, IMHO. Possibly cheaper as well.

Rusty Trichome Reviewed by Rusty Trichome on 10-06-2011. Yellow crispy fan leaves on 4 different strains.Deficiency or hard water? Hello people.It's been about 10 days I have this problem and it seems it's getting worst gradually.I'm growing 4 different strains:Masterkush, Super Silver Haze, Ice Cream and Blue Cheese. Here are some pictures: 279005 279006 And the most affected plant, masterkush: 279007 Rating: 5

[stefanosstef]

Proper ingoing water ph, in peat-based soil, is between 6.3 and 6.8 if the soil is already properly buffered. You didn't mention brand or kind of soil, but check the bag to see if it says it's ph balanced. Since you mentioned that the soil is "slightly fertilized", it might be that you're adding too many nutrients before the existing nutrients in the soil burn-off. (get used-up)
Which specific brand and type. (Miracle Grow 6 month, Scotts 3 month, Fox Farms Ocean Forest, SuperSoil...?) Is it an indoor potting mix? Just curious, because outdoor mixes tend to be virtually unbuffered. (ph is too low ofr indoor cannabis)

Unfortunately I don't have the soil bag or remember the brand but It wasn't big brand, that's for sure.I think it was german...
I'm not sure about the ph, I think it was 6-6.5.If it was unbuffered or with much fertilizer wouldn't it damage them when they were seedlings?When I fed them they had 34 days in this soil so the nutes should have been gone.Last year I used the same soil and fed them earlier with no problems.

The liquid ph test kits are better, more accurate than the strips, IMHO. Possibly cheaper as well.

I also ordered a kit containing liquid ph test kit, ph down solution and ph up solution paying 26€ for all of them.

[Rusty Trichome]

Might be as simple as...they're hungry and in old soil, and dealing with ph issues...

Does the water go straight through the soil, or does the water sit and absorb rather easily? If it goes straight through, you might want a surfactant. Also called a wetting agent. 1/4 teaspoon of NON-antibacterial dishsoap in a gallon of properly ph'd water wirks the same, and will help the water absorb better. One or two waterings should do the trick. If that's not it, at least other's have the info... Remember...the the anti-bacterial kind of dishsoap. (it'll kill the beneficial bacteria in the soil)

Seedlings prefer the acidity, and yes, the nutrients can stress a seedling. Some brands can stress 'em too much. But I did learn to grow cannabis in Miracle Grow Potting Mix (3 month) for the first year of growing indoors. Stresses 'em a tad, but cannabis acclimates rather quickly if given a good growing enviornment. (no overwatering, no additional nutrients till appropriate, no "miracle" ammendments...)

But a lot of the seedling mixes are a mix of stuff the seedlings prefer. Usually unbuffered peat moss (4.5 ph or so) that's been screened fine, with tiny chunks of perlite mixed-in...it's too acidic and there's not enough "body" in the soil to keep a plant upright, and usually no buffering agent.

Some seedling mixes also have a wetting agent and some form of chellated nutrients, and some are even ph buffered. Some are made from sedge peat, which can be closer to neutral than sphagnum. Hardly necessary info here, but it might find a use somewhere, sometime, for someone.

Crap...what was the question again...?

[stefanosstef]

Might be as simple as...they're hungry and in old soil, and dealing with ph issues...

Does the water go straight through the soil, or does the water sit and absorb rather easily? If it goes straight through, you might want a surfactant. Also called a wetting agent. 1/4 teaspoon of NON-antibacterial dishsoap in a gallon of properly ph'd water wirks the same, and will help the water absorb better. One or two waterings should do the trick. If that's not it, at least other's have the info... Remember...the the anti-bacterial kind of dishsoap. (it'll kill the beneficial bacteria in the soil)

Seedlings prefer the acidity, and yes, the nutrients can stress a seedling. Some brands can stress 'em too much. But I did learn to grow cannabis in Miracle Grow Potting Mix (3 month) for the first year of growing indoors. Stresses 'em a tad, but cannabis acclimates rather quickly if given a good growing enviornment. (no overwatering, no additional nutrients till appropriate, no "miracle" ammendments...)

But a lot of the seedling mixes are a mix of stuff the seedlings prefer. Usually unbuffered peat moss (4.5 ph or so) that's been screened fine, with tiny chunks of perlite mixed-in...it's too acidic and there's not enough "body" in the soil to keep a plant upright, and usually no buffering agent.

Some seedling mixes also have a wetting agent and some form of chellated nutrients, and some are even ph buffered. Some are made from sedge peat, which can be closer to neutral than sphagnum. Hardly necessary info here, but it might find a use somewhere, sometime, for someone.

Crap...what was the question again...?

For now I can't give you more info about the soil or the ph.I remember checking the ph when I bought it so I don't think it was very acidic.When I water them, the water sits for a while in the surface and then it goes through the soil.It sits for like 10 seconds.In 2 of the pots it drips after watering but I think that's due to the rocks I put in the bottom of them, I am not overwatering.
Today I see them a little bit better and bigger, the thing with the leaves didn't get any worse for sure.Yesterday's feeding might have helped them.Tomorrow the effects of the feeding whether good or bad should show up.Will post new photos then.Thanks for bothering with my problem, I appreciate it! :thumbsup:

[stefanosstef]

When I water them, the water sits for a while in the surface and then it goes through the soil.It sits for like 10 seconds.In 2 of the pots it drips after watering but I think that's due to the rocks I put in the bottom of them, I am not overwatering.

Never heard of wetting agents, I'm searching it now.From what I describe do you think this is the case here?I found it weird that it drips everytime I water them but I thought it was the rocks.Also, the first cm of surface soil remain moisturized 2 days after watering.

[WashougalWonder]

I see several things.
1. Over fertilization.....don't give any more nutes.
2. Incoming pH too high. Use molasses (unsulphered) to lower. CHECK PH EVERY WATERING.
3. Rocks in bottom of pot, no good. Next time use pots sized to plant and let them grow into them. As you repot this adds new mix and essentially fertilizer.
4. If it is still moist on top, you may be overwatering.

Again, pH can vary greatly in just one day. Check every time.

[Rusty Trichome]

I the water doesn't 'channel' straight through the soil, a wetting agent (dishsoap) is unnecessary, and don't use it.
Don't let the soil remain wet. Cannabis needs a wet-dry cycle for proper growth.

Once you get your ph test kit, it will eliminate some causes or highlight what's actually going on.

Likely a good idea to get some fresh soil for your next grow. Check with the locals to see what's available in your town. Old, questionable soil just adds to the guesswork of trying to narrow-down causes and effects.

Some fresh pix would help. Old leaves are old news. What's the new growth looking like?

[stefanosstef]

I see several things.
1. Over fertilization.....don't give any more nutes.
2. Incoming pH too high. Use molasses (unsulphered) to lower. CHECK PH EVERY WATERING.
3. Rocks in bottom of pot, no good. Next time use pots sized to plant and let them grow into them. As you repot this adds new mix and essentially fertilizer.
4. If it is still moist on top, you may be overwatering.

Again, pH can vary greatly in just one day. Check every time.

2.I used a ph down solution, as I mentioned above but I can't do much until I am able to check the ph.
4.It's not when I water, just 2 days before.I have grown 4 times in the past, I know when to water.

I the water doesn't 'channel' straight through the soil, a wetting agent (dishsoap) is unnecessary, and don't use it.
Don't let the soil remain wet. Cannabis needs a wet-dry cycle for proper growth.

Once you get your ph test kit, it will eliminate some causes or highlight what's actually going on.

Likely a good idea to get some fresh soil for your next grow. Check with the locals to see what's available in your town. Old, questionable soil just adds to the guesswork of trying to narrow-down causes and effects.

Some fresh pix would help. Old leaves are old news. What's the new growth looking like?

I let the soil dry before I water, overwatering not the issue.New growth is fine, no mutant or twisty leaves, not even on old ones.Today I see them bigger and at least 2 of them begin showing sex.That's good news I suppose.

[Rusty Trichome]

The watering issue I was refering to was in regards to the ability of the soil to retain water.
Old soil almost rejects the water so little is absorbed.

If you're happy with 'em, I'm happy. :thumbsup:

[Salvein211]

I had to LOL at this.... As WW said, no rocks in the bottom of your pots. Now I only laugh because I did this a few times myself and found out the painful way.. When It came time to transplant, the rocks would fall out of the rootball on bottom, and loosen some of the soil, and lets just say, A BIG MESS and a lot more shock to the plant! I suppose you could use rocks for the FINAL pot you are going to use, BUT, as I learned, these rocks have a certain pH. Being at the bottom of your medium, it wont matter as much, but the roots will bind there and feed around them, thus creating maybe a problem you dont need.